Carvin Catalog Archive • 1977

1977

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Carvin Catalog Archive

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Highlights

Highlights from this catalog

Key products, features, and themes you’ll see in this issue.

VT312 Musician’s Tube Amp

The VT312 is a compact, self-contained tube amplifier designed to deliver warm, responsive tone in a portable format. Positioned within the Musician’s series, it brings together tube-driven character and practical stage usability, making it well-suited for smaller venues, rehearsal environments, and controlled studio applications while still retaining enough output for live performance.

All-tube circuitry for rich harmonic tone and natural compression
Integrated 3-speaker configuration for balanced projection
7-band graphic equalizer for precise tonal shaping
Dual-channel operation (normal and sustain modes)
Built-in reverb using Hammond spring reverb tank
Compact combo design for portability and ease of setup
Suitable for guitar, studio, and small-stage applications

Featured models: VT3212

ASG500 Dual Channel / Bi-Amp System Amplifier

A versatile high-power amplifier capable of stereo or bi-amped operation, marking a major step toward modular sound system design.

500W RMS total output (250W per channel)
Switchable hi/lo-pass active filtering (bi-amp capability)
Rack-mount design
Dual VU meters and independent channel control
Expandable system architecture

Featured models: ASG500

BM700 Bass System

A high-output bass system designed for larger venues, combining dual 15” speakers with advanced cabinet tuning for deep, controlled low-end response.

Dual MagnaLab 15” speakers in separate tuned enclosures
125W–250W RMS configurations
7-band EQ for precise bass shaping
Harmonic Drive for controlled distortion
TR1000 cabinet integration

Featured models: BM700 TR1000

FH1800 Folded Horn System

A highly efficient bass reinforcement system utilizing folded horn design for increased output and deeper low-frequency extension compared to conventional cabinets.

Electro-Voice 18” EVM-18B speaker
Folded horn enclosure increases efficiency and output
Extended high-frequency response vs typical 18” speakers
Up to 250W RMS system configurations
Designed for concert-level performance

Featured models: FH1800

MCR870 Monitor System

The MCR870 is a modular stage monitoring system designed to give performers clear, controllable on-stage sound without interfering with the main house mix. Built as a complete monitoring solution rather than a single component, it combines dedicated monitor speakers, power amplification, and signal control to improve clarity, reduce feedback, and allow performers to hear themselves accurately in live environments.

MS500 monitor speakers with selectable dispersion angles
SV125 power amp with built-in graphic EQ
Expandable multi-monitor configurations
Feedback control via equalization

Featured models: MS500 SV125

Catalog Story

Inside the Carvin Catalog

The 1977 Carvin catalog presents a noticeably expanded and more system-oriented product lineup, with a strong emphasis on integrated sound reinforcement and control flexibility. While the 1976 catalog established a solid foundation of high-power amplifiers and speaker systems, the 1977 edition builds upon that platform with broader system solutions and increased modularity.

A major development is the introduction of a significantly expanded product program, including mixers with panning, rack-mount bi-amped power amplifiers, and more advanced equalization capabilities. The catalog explicitly notes the release of “42 new Carvin products”, many driven by professional user requests . This reflects a shift from individual components toward complete, configurable systems.

Amplification continues to evolve with both tube and solid-state designs now fully matured and offered side-by-side. The continued use of 7-band graphic equalizers with active filters across nearly all amplifier categories represents a defining technical standard carried forward from 1976, but now applied more consistently across the entire lineup. These equalizers enable precise tonal shaping across instruments and applications, eliminating the need for traditional tone stacks and allowing broader adaptability.

Speaker systems show incremental but meaningful refinement, particularly with the deeper integration of MagnaLab speakers alongside JBL and Electro-Voice components, offering customers tiered performance options within the same system architecture. The addition of JBL professional speaker options across more models represents a notable expansion over 1976.

Another key advancement is the formal introduction and expansion of monitor systems and modular PA configurations, indicating Carvin’s growing focus on live sound environments rather than strictly instrument amplification. Systems are now designed to scale—adding monitors, power amps, or EQ sections as needed—rather than being fixed packages.

Compared to 1976, the 1977 catalog reflects a company transitioning from strong individual product offerings into a more cohesive ecosystem of amplification, speaker systems, and signal control tools, with increased attention to professional stage and sound reinforcement applications.

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Carvin Catalog Archive

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1977

Year: 1977

Brand

Carvin amplifiers, Carvin PA systems, Carvin 1977 catalog, Carvin VT1500, Carvin bass amps 1977, Carvin graphic equalizer amps, Carvin JBL speaker systems

Keywords

1954 Carvin Catalog, vintage Carvin, guitar amplifiers, bass amplifiers, electric Hawaiian guitar, steel guitar, tube amplifier, Baldwin Park California

Models

Carvin Models: VT1500, SVT1500-2, LM1200, SLM1200-1, SLM1200-2, VT410, VT312, VT210, ML300, SB500, JBL-SB500, BM700, SBM700-1, SBM700-2, FH1800, SFH1800-1, SFH1800-2, VTR2800, ST2500, ST4500, SC2000, SC3000, SV125, SV250, ASG500, MS500, MCR870-1, MCR900-2, MP400, MP600, MC600, MP1000, MC1000, SM1200, SM1800, QM1850, Stage 1, Club PA, Stage 2, Stage 3, Stage 4, Stage 4 Bi-Amped, Stage 5, Stage 6 Non-Bi-Amped, Stage 6 Bi-Amped, Concert Stage 6 Bi-Amped, Stage 7, DC150, CM96, SS76, SS66B, DT640, AS55B, AS51, CB100, LB70, LB70S, PRO-S6, PRO-S8, PRO-D6, PRO-D8, L33, L34, SC12, SC16, HC17, APB4, AP6, AP8, FS-2, FS-4, CT-10, CV-12, CV-14, CV-19, CV-70, CV-80, CV-90, CV-100, CV-PB40.Third Party Models: JBL K120, JBL K130, JBL K140, Electro-Voice EV30A, Electro-Voice EVM-18B, Shure SM57-CN, Shure SM58-CN, Shure 565SD-CN, Shure 588SB-CN, Shure 588-SAC.

Series

Concert Series, Musician’s Series, Super Concert, Bass Master Series, Folded Horn Systems, Studio Series, Monitor Systems

Technology

7 band graphic equalizer, 10 band graphic equalizer, active filters, parametric-style tone shaping, tube amplification, solid state amplification, hybrid system design, harmonic drive circuit, sustain drive, dual channel architecture, high low sensitivity inputs, master volume control, Hammond spring reverb tank, folded horn design, bass reflex cabinet, tuned port enclosure, horn loaded projection, bi amping, electronic crossover, rack mount power amplifiers, stereo mixing, quadraphonic mixing, channel panning, monitor mixing, headphone monitoring, JBL speaker integration, MagnaLab speaker systems, Alnico V magnets, humbucking pickups, stereo wired guitar, phase switching, coil switching, short circuit protection, thermal protection, modular system expansion

Search Tokens

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Additional searchable lines

Example: Electric Spanish Guitar kits, Alnico pickups, accordion pickup, mid-century musical instruments.
Example: Electric Spanish Guitar kits, Alnico pickups, accordion pickup, mid-century musical instruments.